Aussies draw first blood in the Ashes, breaking 18-year hoodoo
Australia has conquered “Fortress Edgbaston”, comprehensively beating England to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series.
After being set an unlikely 398 runs to win, England was skittled for 147 on a dominant final day of play for the tourists.
IT’S ALL OVER! AND GUESS WHO TAKES THE WINNING CATCH?
1-0 😄 Over to Lord’s we go!
WATCH: @9Gem
STREAM: https://t.co/ARaHMPPTti #9WWOS #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Dmn3fmU0Em— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) August 5, 2019
Any hope England had of saving the series opener was snuffed out by spinner Nathan Lyon, who wreaked havoc with figures of 6-49.
Quick Pat Cummins took the other four wickets, including his 100th Test scalp, helping Australia to a 251-run win.
It’s Australia’s first Ashes Test victory at the infamous Birmingham ground since 2001, ending an 18-year drought.
While Lyon dominated with the ball, Steve Smith was named player of the match after posting twin centuries for the first time in his career.
The second Test begins at Lord’s on August 14.
Images: Getty/Gareth Copley